The council has signed a new management agreement with Clarks Village's owner L. S. Street Ltd - and its management company Landsec - which will see it continue to manage the car parks until June 30, 2019.

Without this agreement, the car parks would revert to private ownership - and the council could miss out on £170,000 a year in revenue.

The council has the power to set parking charges for car and coach parks across the district - but it cannot influence charges on privately owned land, unless there is a management agreement in place.

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The agreement was raised at a meeting of the council's cabinet in Shepton Mallet on Monday evening (July 23).

Councillor Nigel Taylor, portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and community health services, said: "The agreement gives powers to L. S. Street Ltd to influence the fees set by the council for parking in the Clarks Village car parks.

"Entering into a management agreement adds value to the existing council car parking service in Street."

The Clarks Village car parks generate around £170,000 for the council every year - described by Mr Taylor as "a very substantial amount".

Without this income, the council would have to find this amount by making savings within its other departments in a bid to balance the books.

Mr Taylor added: "It is assumed that without a management agreement, L. Street Ltd would take back the car parks and operate them as a private concern.

"The council would then be unable to influence the terms under which car parking is offered to the public.

"With Clarks Village being the largest parking provider in Street, we could be placed at a disadvantage through not being able to influence coterminous pricing in key car parks."

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